Fastening inserting machine



H. E. ELLIOTT ET AL FASTENING INSERTINGMACHINE Jam 17,, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 9, 1948 1'3 1950 H. E. ELLIOTT ETAL 2,494,694

FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan M 1950 H. E. ELLIOTT ET AL FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9, 1948 H0 [nvenzam 1E M m a mmm 4.. dawn EL A Jan 17, 1950 H. E. ELLlOTT ET AL.

FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1948 17214971 ions Harald/5 Email:

Geo e Cfiarfan [n4 Home Jana. M, 1950 H. E. ELLIOTT ET AL FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9, 1.948

6 0 w 3 S n. run 0 mfl T u L .M f. U a j m 5 T13 a wa m T r n n d h 1.. f w hm W Z Jan. 17, 1950 H. E. ELLIOTT ET AL FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 9, 1948 A60 nz/eniom Ham/d5 El! (ozz George C Banan Jam 17, 1950 H. E. ELLIOTT ET AL FASTENING INSERTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan 9, 1948 [nvenfors Haro/aEE/[z ozi Geozye (3.5a, rton Patented Jan. 17,1956

UNI STATES 01F F LJI CE $494,694 FASTENINGINSERTINGYMACHiNE Harold Ernstlllliottand GeorgeCli fford Bai-ton,

"Leicester, England, assignors to United Shoe aMachinery ,1 Corporation, Flemington, 9.1., a

corporation of New J ersey ApplicationJanuary 9, 1948, Serial No. 1,326 In Great Britain January 15, 1947 This invention relates to machines,--such as fastening inserting machines of the type disclosed in Letters Patent or the United States NoJ898j5FZ3 issued September 15, 3 1908; on an application filed in the name ofoGeorge=Goddujfor progressively operating along the edge of a work part such as a sole secured to ashoe. The linear configuration of the edge of a work part suclr as .a sole isfiirregiu larand certain portions of theedge are of apronounced linear curvature.

The manual guidingof the *work part, which henceforth will be referred :towas the sole, past the operating instrumentalities of the machine, therefore, is a rather difficult matter requiring considerable skill and experience on tithe tazpartvoi 1 the operator,tparticularly in viewlc f the fact that the progress of the operating :point about the periphery of the sole i-s'of necessityrapid. Ma-

"chines of this type are usuallymprovided:with an edge gageagainst which the edge @3188 of the tsole ticularly when operating upon an edge portiomof the sole-of pronounced curvature, isuch as theedge of the heelseat portion, in maintaining continuone contact between the edgedace of the sole and the edge igage. This has given rise to the 'thoughtto provide instead'ofanwedgegage which is fixed on' th'emachine:cframaran edge gagewwhich is movable forwarder rear-ward in the machine and particularly an wedgewgage which is spring pressed forward so that on the operators failure or inability continuously to maintain gcontactrbetween theedgezface of thersoler-andftheedge gage, the edge gage is moved forward by its spring to retain the desiredguiding contact with thedge face of the sale.

This, however, results; .as may readily .be seen, zinlocating portions ofthe sole edge ,operated upon :in different positions forward or rearward of the machine so thatnailsv-would be inserted -into'the sole at nonuniform distances from the sole edge.

20 Claims. (Cl. 1-18.)

-overeome these diifi culties in a machine organization of the above stated type in whichvthe ledge P1 gage is spring pressed forward in the machine and may be pushed backward by the pressure of work thereagainstkand in -rwhich one of the :operating instrumentalities, in the illustrated examiple litheawl, amused to rpiercethe work at apredetermined distance from the sole edge to m-akema nail receivingihole inn-the sole and then bya .moveirnentilaterally of the maohineto impart a feed motion to the work; locating finally the awl "hole tin 'thetsole in sthe line of drive of the fastening inserting driver.

Inraccordancewith one fieature of the invention, therefore, there is :made provision iformo-vingthe awl forlwardand rearwardrof the machine to enable the awl to participate in the forward rand'rearward'movement of the edge gage andthe Work, the arrangement being particularly such ethat onareturncof the awl along the line of feed lintoinitial :pos'ition,,:th'e awl is accurately positioned forward :orreaJrwa-rd of the machineby connections to the ledge gage. Accordinglyythe critical initial workpiercingposition of the "awl isidetermined xin a-ccordance :with whatever position the edge gage happens to be in. Since the REE/W1 can-move forwarder rearward, andindeed so moves on forward orwrearward displacement of the. sole, and 'turzthermore since the driver is not movable forward or rearward of themachine, *there :is provided additional mechanism for posi- "tioning the za-wlat the-end of its feed movement inalinement with the driver, irrespective of the position of the edge gage so'as to insure thatthe nail is inserted into the hole ,previously made in the sole by the awl.

Ithas been *founddesirable not only to provide mechanism for causing forward and rearward .movementof theedge gage and the awl but 'also radditiona-l mechanism designed to insure that such movement always 'takesplace in a direction perpendicular tothe line of tangency at the point of contact of the-edge gage with the sole edge. 1T0 this end andrin accordance lwith another teature of the invention the edgegage, aswell as the awl, are mounted onsupports which :are an'- igularly :adj-ustable about a center coinciding with 1 the awl when the latter ais in its work ipiercinglposition, theretbeing provided powercoperated mechanismfor so uadjnstingthe edge gage supportand :theiawlsupport angrilarly thatthe edge gage and l the l'awl salways movecforward orrrearward inla iidirection perpendicular ttothe line nttangencylalt @thepoint of contact bf the edge gage withthe sole The :purpose of the invention, therefore,' is -toias edge. Moreover, the-operation ofthat mechanism for angularly adjusting the edge gage support and awl support is controlled by sole edge engaging feelers in accordance with the linear configuration of the sole edge.

These and other features of the invention will now be described in detail in connection with the appended drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an angular view of the head of a loose nailing machine of the above identified type, in which machine the invention is illustrated as embodied.

Fig. 2 is a right hand side elevation of the main portion of the machine head;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the main portion of the machine head;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, showin edge gage swinging mechanism and awl support swinging mechanism of the illustrated machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the edge gage mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section along the line VIVI in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section along the line VIIVII in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fi 4;

Fig. 9 is a right hand side elevation of hydraulic mechanism for operating the mechanisms for swinging the edge gage and the awl support;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a right hand side elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a section along the line XIIXII in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a plan View of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of some of the parts shown in Figs. 4 and 13 in a diiferent position from that shown in those figures;

Fig. 15 is a plan view similar to Fig. 14 showing the parts in still another position;

Fig. 16 is an inverted plan view of awl positioning parts shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 17 is an angular view showing some of the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation showing the connection between an awl bar and its actuator;

Fig. 19 is a front elevation, partly in section, of supporting means for an awl guiding member;

Fig. 20 is a front elevation, partly in section, of awl alining mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a section along the line XXIXXI in Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21 but showing the parts in a diiferent relative position.

The illustrated loose nailing machine is in general purpose and construction similar to the loose nailing machine disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 898,573 issued September 15,

1908, on an application by George Goddu, and

like that machine, the illustrated machine has a work piercing awl l0 and a nail driver I?! (Figs. 1 and 3) which are both carried by a swinging head 14. The swinging head is moved in one direction after the awl has pierced the work to cause the awl to feed the work and then is moved in the opposite direction, after the work has been fed and after the awl has been withdrawn from the work, to return the awl to its initial position. Moreover, there is provided a so-called foot plate [6 (Figs. 1 and 2) against which the work is pressed by a horn l8. Finally there is provided nail assorting and delivering mechanism also similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

For the purpose of aiding the operator in guiding the work through the machine and ob taining a uniform spacing of the hails from the edge of the work regardless of irregular linear contour or configuration of the edge of the work there is provided an edge gage 20 (Figs. 1 to 5, 14 and 15) against which the edge face of the work, such as a sole on a shoe, is held by the operator and by which the work is positioned relatively to the awl. The edge gage 20 is arranged directly behind the awl l0, viewing the machine from the front, when the awl is in its work piercing position. The edge gage 29 has the form of a horizontal bar which is adjustably mounted in a guideway formed in a bar-shaped carrier 22. The carrier 22 is slidable forward and rearward of the machine in a guideway provided in the underside of a plate-like supporting bracket 24 (Figs. 2 and 8). The bracket 24 has secured to it a bottom plate 26 (Fig. 6) between which and the bracket the edge gage 20 and the carrier 22 are located. Provided 0n the upper face of the bracket 24 is a dove-tailed guiding tongue 28 (Figs. 4 and 8) which is curved concentric to the axis of the awl [0 when the latter is in its work piercing position. The tongue 28 is slidingly mounted in a correspondingly curved guideway formed in the underface of a rectilinearly and laterally adjustable slide 30. The slide 30 is mounted in a horizontal guideway formed in the underiace of a fixed bracket 32 (Fig. 2) Lateral adjustment of the slide 30 causes the edge gage 20 and mechanism associated therewith to be adjusted in that direction. This adjustment is made by means of a thumb screw 34 (Fig. 4) which is threaded into the bracket 32. The thumb screw 34 has on it a pair of parallel flanges which embrace a lug 36 provided on the slide 30, the stem of the screw passing through the lug. Thus rotation of the screw 34 in one direction or the other causes corresponding adjustment of the edge gage 20 in one direction or the other and more specifically this mechanism enables the operator to adjust the edge gage 2G to be positioned directly behind the awl II) when the awl is in its work piercing position.

It will be seen, therefore, that the edge gage 20 and its carrier 22 are movable forward and rearward of the machine in a rectilinear path and that they also may be angularly adjusted or swun in an arcuate path about the awl I0 as a 1 center.

The edge gage 20 and its carrier 22 are urged forward in the machine by compression springs 38 (Fig. 5) which lie in recesses provided in the opposite sides of the carrier 22 and in the bracket 24. The springs 38 are confined between pins 40 extending downward from the bracket 24 into the recesses and lugs 42 extending laterally from the carrier 22. The lugs 42 are normally held by the springs 38 against the front ends of the recesses in the bracket 24 thus holding the edge gage 20 and the carrier 22 in their foremost position.

The edge gage 20 is adjustable in the carrier 22 with relation to the awl to determine the distance from the sole edge at which the nails are to be driven. For this purpose the edge gage 28 has at its rear end a head 44 (Fig. 5) which is provided with an inclined slot 45, the slot when viewed from above extending rearwardly from the right to the left of the head at an acute 5 angle to the longitudinal median line of the edge gage. The carrier *22 has at its rearenda similar head 48 lying below thehead M. llhe head 18 also is provided with a slot to which, however, extends at right angles to the longitudinal median line ofthe edg'e ga'ge fio. Provided on the bracket 24 is a downwardly extending stud t2 li ies; *4 and t") on which is pivoted a bell crank lever 54. One arm or the bell 1 crank lever i l is "the term of a hand lever by means of which the bell crank lever may be rotated to eause the edge gage 2t to 'be adjusted with relation to the carrier-2 2. The other a'rm of the bell crank lever 54 extends beneath the head it of the carrier 22 and icarries an upavardly extending bin 58 (Fig.-*8) on which is rotatably mounted a 1 011 53. The roll M3 engages in a "groove provided in the underfacc ore block so andwextendihg forward and rear-ward of the machine. slide laterally of the machine a guideway formed in the undertaee of the head 48 cnthe carrier 22. T1'l b10-k 60 carries an upwardly extending pin-ii 2' which passes through i the slots 58 and 45. Thus when the hand'lever armor the bell crank lever 5 i is moved dorward by the operator, the rolliiltmcves the block fiti-rom right to left (as viewed "from the front-oi the machine) in the gulleway the head 4 8, the roll 58 mov i-rig forward in the 'grcove provided in the block r so. lvloreover, the pin 62 moves along the slots MB and 5t and-due to *"the angularity of the slot lt, the edge gage 2t is moved forward toward the awl. When the bell cranklleverwfi l-is rotated in the opposite direction, r-the edge gage 2991s adjusted rearward.

Theedge gage 2B and thecarrierizzi are capable of being moved rearwardby the pressure ioi :sole against the edgegag'eQG -and this-.rnovernent takesrplace'against the res'sureloithe twosprings 38. Whenthe edge gage .120 and the carrier -22 are so moved, the iblock 651, :since'l'it is connected by the (pin 62 to the edge gage 2 t iandthe carrier 22, moves rearward with relation to ithe roll s dfi on the bell crank lever 54 irrespective of the ipositi'on oi the block ilat'erally of the carrier -22. Accordingly, theadjustment offthe i edge gage with relationto the' carrierlis not affected by the rearward displacement of the edgewgage under the pressure o-f the work.

edge gage supporting bracket at has formedon it ateach side of andzparallel to the guldeway in which the carrier 22 is movable, two, guicleways in each of which is slidably eupiportecl a bar shape-d "feeler 54 (Figs. 5 andnilrl) i The two feelers serve tocontrolunechanisin for causing the :above mentioned augu-lar adjustment of the bracket is and thus of the :edge gage 2o. front ends of the feelers fi lrare rounded and lie close to the edge .gage Zdone at eachvside thereof. Normally the front'ends of the feelers 54 lie a tlitt-le forward of the front end of "the edge gage 2Q. 'The ieelers el-arearranged to be pushed lback bythe solerasit is presented to the machine until the sole -edge engages thes edg'e 1 gage 2B. The feele'rs are, therefore, positioned by the sole forward andirea'rward-of the -machine and they can move iorward aind rearward during the operation of the machine relatively to the edge gageli].

The rear"endportion oi eaoh-fee1er 164 carries a downward ex-tending 'pin "55 (Figs 5, 113 to 0.5)

which engages anopen endedslotliu headat the rear end of a T-shaped Iever 'B B -l3l,rthe lever being supported by the bottom eplateflfii The block 56 is arranged to The front end portionotf the lever 68 carries a downward extending pin 10 which engagesan open-ended slot 12 in one arm of a bellerank leverld. The bell crank lever 1 4 is pi-votally mounted on a "pin 16 secured in the bottom plate 2 6. The other arm of the bell crank lever M extends to the left of the machine (as-seen. from the front) and is connected to a valve to be described, the valve serving to control hydraulic mechanism forswinging i the i edge-=gage about the awlas a center.

The leveris and thus both feelerst l @are "urged forward by a compressionspring it (Fig. 5.). The forward end oi -the spring engages a pin 88 projecting upward from the center part of the head on the lever 'iit through a -slot 32 provided inthe carrier 22. The edge gage tfllias in it :a clearance slotll lin which the spring it lies. For-'- wardmevement" of the feelers M by the spring "it! is limited -by the engagement -of a pin651mg. 5) on -the right hand feelerfit with alateral. projection 83 --on the edge gage 29.

if the two feelers -64 are moved simultaneously rearwardjthe lever -63 willmove with them rearward without being turned i about its pivot pin 8 0. The pin T0 at that time movesidly along the slot 12 *in the bell crank lever Mar-1d, accordingly, does n'otafiect the positioh of the b'ellorank lever. If, however, one of the feelers is moved rearward relatively to the other feeler, the lever til will he swungabout its pivot pinto, threbycausing the other feeler to=moveforvvard and=also causing the bell crank lever M to swingabout iitspivot pin 16 withthe result that the valve whichlis connected to the bell 'crank lever will ba moved :either forwarder rearward't'o initiate the operation of the hydraulic mechanism.

If one of the feelers is moved rearward while the iorwardmovement of the other'ieeler :is resisted by contact with the sole edge, the lever 68 will'then swing about the 'pin fifion the latter -feeler and the bell cra'nk lever T4 will be swun by that movement of the lever fitlto operate the valve.

To repeat, 'ifthe Work is thrust'rearward. with equal pressure against both *ieelera the feelers will yieldrearward without operating the valve. In case of relative movement between the two feelers 54, therewill be brought about a swinging movement of the lever 68 and, therefore, of the bell crank-lever 14, the'result of which will be to operate the valve of the hydraulic mechanism. The operation ofthe hydraulic mechanism will "cause the'two feelers anditheedge gage, since they are both carried by the bracket 24, to swing as *a unit angularly'aboutfthe awl :as .acenter in. such a manner that the'direction of forward and rearward movement of the edge gage will be perpenidicul'a'r to the .liIlGvOf tangency at the point of engagement eithe -edge gage with a curved portion of the sole edge.

Referring now more specifically to the mechamism which, asta result of the operation of the hydraulic mechanism, "causes the above "mentioned angular adjustment of the edge gage mechanism-it will be noted :from Figs..2 andv l that the slide 3B which carries the bracket 24 and thusthe entire edgeigagezmechanism has on :it :a verticalwspindle Billion which 1is rotatably mounted a lever t'l serving toadjust-the bracket -24 angularly with relation to 'theslidett. The :lever SZv-hasan arm 94 which is xpivotally connected by a link fl B to ahydraulicallytoperated :rod -98, the rodbeing oscillated by the above mentioned hydraulic mechanism. The lever 92::also

has a curved lower arm I which is pivotally con-' nected by a link I02 to the edge gage bracket 24. When, therefore, the lever 92 is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above, by the rod 98, the bracket 24 and with it the edge gage 20 and the feelers 64 are swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed from above, about the axis of the awl, the curved tongue 20 on the bracket 24 sliding in the curved guideway in the slide 30.

In view of the fact that upon angular adjustment of the edge gage mechanism the above mentioned bell crank lever I4 which is connected to the valve of the hydraulic mechanism is also angularly adjusted, provision must be made for so connecting the bell crank lever with the valve that the bell crank lever may be angularly adjusted without disturbing its connection to the valve. To this end, the bell crank lever I4 carries a downwardly extending stud I04 (Fig. 7) which has a ball portion on its lower end. The ball portion engages an arcuate guideway I06 which is concentric to the axis of the awl when the latter is in its work piercing position. This arcuate guideway I05 is formed in the head of an arm I08, which head is extended laterally of the machine. The arm I08 is secured on one end of a shaft IIO (Figs. 2, 3 and 17) rotatably mounted in a bracket I I2 secured to the slide 30. The other end of the shaft has secured to it an arm II4 carrying a lateral pin I I6 which passes through a hole in the front end of a rod I IS. The rear end of the rod I I8 is connected to the aforesaid valve. On adjustment of the slide 30 laterally of the machine, the pin IIS slides through the hole in the rod IIB. When the edge gage bracket 24 is angularly adjusted, the ball portion of the stud I04 on the bell crank lever I4 travels along the arcuate guideway I00 in the head of the arm I08 but retains operative connection therewith. The arrangement is such that if one of the feelers is moved rearward under the thrust of the work thereagainst, the consequent swinging movement of the bell crank lever I4 will bring about a corresponding rocking movement of the arm I08 and shaft I I0 which in turn will impart a corresponding forward or rearward movement to the rod I I8. More specifically, when the left hand feeler is moved rearward, the edge gage bracket 24 will be swung towards the right (as seen from the front of the machine) but when the right hand feeler is moved rearward, the bracket will be swung towards the left.

The swinging movement of the edge gage bracket 24 in either direction will proceed until that feeler which has not been moved rearwardly by the work is brought to bear against the edge face of the sole with a pressure equal to that exerted by the work on the other feeler. When this condition is reached, the bell crank lever I4 will have been restored to its central position and the valve will havebeen moved back to its neutral position to cut off the further supply of pressure fluid to the hydraulic mechanism. The extent to which the edge gage bracket 24 is thus swung at any time is, therefore, dependent on the shape or curvature of that part of the sole edge which is then immediately in front of the two feelers. The result obtained is such that if the operator fails to hold the sole in the desired position in which the direction of forward or rearward movement of the edge gage is substantially perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the sole edge, the edge gage bracket 24 will automatically be angularly adjusted to bring this desired condition about.

Consequently, the nails will always be inserted into the sole at a uniform distance from the sole edge. The arrangement is further such that the edge gage bracket 24 will remain in the position it occupied during the driving of the final nail into the sole when the sole is removed from the machine.

Referring now to the awl mechanism, it will be seen in Fig. 2 that the awl I0 is secured in the lower end of a bar I20 which is slidingly mounted in the left hand arm (as seen from the front of the machine) of a horizontal two armed lever I22 (Fig. 4). To permit relative movement between the awl bar I20 and its actuating mechanism, the upper end portion of the awl bar I20 has in it two horizontal recesses I24 (Fig. 18) which are engaged by tongues I20 extending laterally from the lower end of an awl bar actuator I28. The actuator I28 is vertically reciprocated in the above mentioned swinging head I4, as is well known in machines of this type, by mechanism, also well-known, in time relation to the operation of the other operating instrumentalities of the machine. Specifically, the arrangement of the recesses I24 in the awl bar I20 and tongues I26 on the actuator I28 allows the awl bar to be moved in a horizontal direction with relation to the actuator 528, as will hereinafter appear, and yet to be raised and lowered by the actuator. The above mentioned awl supporting lever I22 has formed in it a vertical guideway in which the awl bar I20 is slidingly mounted and the awl bar is retained in that guideway by a plate I30 (Figs. 3 and 4) secured to the lever I22. The lever I22 has secured to it a vertical bar I32 having an offset portion in which is formed a groove I34. The groove i34 is engaged by a pin I36 secured in the swinging head I4. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide support for the lever I22 against downward movement while, however, allowing the lever to move horizontally.

The horizontal movement of the lever I22, as a result of which the awl is moved forward or rearward of the machine, is a pivotal movement about a vertical shaft I38 (Figs. 3 and 4) which is positioned at the right of the awl bar I20 (as seen from the front of the machine). The shaft I38 is secured in an awl swinging bracket I40 (Figs. 2, 3 and 20). The lever I22 has a right hand arm I42, which, as will be described, serves to aline the awl in the path of movement of the driver at the end of a work feeding movement of the awl. The awl swinging bracket I40 has on its upper face a dovetailed arcuate guide member or tongue I44 which is concentric to the axis of the awl. The tongue I44 engages a correspondingly curved guideway in a block or bracket I40 (Figs. 1 to 3, l9 and 20) carried by the swinging head I4.

To limit forward and rearward movement of the awl in the machine, the above mentioned arm I42 of the awl supporting lever I22 has a tapered end portion which is positioned between two spaced vertical faces I40 (Figs. 21 and 22) provided on the awl swinging bracket I40. The distance between the faces I48 is sufficient to allow the lever I22 to swing to a limited extent in either direction about its shaft I38, thus permittin a limited forward or rearward movement of the awl. The I42 is normally held by a compression spring I50 against the rear face I48, the spring I50 being positioned between the arm I42 and the front face I48. Thus it will be seen that the awl is moved rearward against the pressure of the spring I50 and that the spring tends to move the awl forward. This movability of the chances awl is of advantage-inthat it permits. theawl to move forwardor:rearwardvwiththewedgegage 20, the connections betweenthe awl. I and the. edge gage 20being hereinafter described.

The awl not only is-movableforwardand rearward in the machine; as just described, but its supporting mechanism. i. e. the. bracket. I40, is also angularly adjustable about a center" coinciding with the awl when itis in. its. work penctrating position. Moreover, the. awl supporting mechanism is adjustable. rectilinearly alongzthe line of feed. To this. end" the: above. mentioned block I46 with relation. to which the awl carrying bracket. I40 is angular-1y adjustable; may be adjusted along a horizontal spindle I52 (Figs. 2 and 19) securedin an arm I54 the arm itself being adjustably securedto the swinging head I4. The block MS. has on its. lug I58 in which is formed an open. ended slot. Athumb screw" I58 passes through the slot and ispthreaded into the. swinging head .I 4.; The. thumb screw. has

two parallelflanges embracin the'lug I58 so that rotation of. the: screwiadjusts the block I46 and with it the awl mechanism (bracket I40, lever I22 andawl bar. I20) laterallyofthe machinetodetermine the-distance=iof the awl (whenpiercing the work) from the; driver and therefore, the spacing between successive nails; driven into the work..

For 1 the purpose" of; bringing about the, angular adjustment of the awl. mechanism, the bracket I48. has secured inilr a... downwardly extending, ball ended stud I68. (Fig: 2) toawhich is pivoted the front. end. oi the above mentioned hydraulically operated T061198: Thusuonoperation.of;the rod 93 toicause angularc adiustment of. the: edge gage mechanism, as above described, the awl mechanism is" adjusted simultaneously. to. the same extent and in thesamedirection.

The connections. between the hydraulically operated rod 98and. the hydraulic: mechanism are as follows: Thelma-.98: isconnected byawball joint to one end of a lever I62 (Fig. 4) whichis pivotedon a vertical studl 6.4Fsecured in abracket I 85 fixed to the. machine: frame. The other end orthalevervz I62 ispivotallv connected to the rod Ifidwof a hydraulically operatedapiston I Id-(Fig.2 9) which is .reciprocatedainaa cylinder I12. The above mentioneduvalve which isoperatedby the reeiersec COUtIOISmthQ admission of: pressure fluid to one: end or. theother' of the cylinder to cause movement of; the piston H0 111110116 direction] or the; other which; imtllrn; causes. a swinging movementior the edge gage: bracket 24. and the awl bracket: I.40.. Thisasimultaneous angular adjustment of theedgegagemechanism and the awl mechanism hasithe advantage'that the rearward. or. forward. movement of theawl always takes place substantially in. thesame direction as the rearwardrorr forward movement or the edge esc' As hasalreadybeen: stated, on return of the awl into. initial position after: a work feeding movement, the awl is.positivelvz-adiusted.forward or rearward in the machine in accordance with whatever.positicnthe-edge.gage may beHin, forward or rearward oi themachina, at that time. To thisend the: above mentioned armii42: of; the awl supporting levers I22 has on it a rearwardly extending lug I14. (Fig: 2) to which; is rigidly secured a connectingymcmben I1 The. connecting member extends from the. lug I 1 4... rearward,- then downwardithemto the-left andforward under the edge ga e mechanism... thiseshape.of.;the.-oonneoting member. I18; providing clearance. for the. shoe and solebeing operatedupon. Pivotally secured to a verticalstud llaiFigs. Band 16) inthe left hand end portion of theconnecting member H6 is a bell crank lever I80. One arm. of. the bell crank lever extends to the right and provides an. abutment which isarranged to. be. engaged, when the awl is in. its. work penetrating position or when the awlis moving to the right toward that pcsitiomhy therounded rear end face. of a block I82. which is secured to the underside of the edge. gage 28.. The other arm of the bell crank lever I extends forwardand carries a cam roll i8 4 arrangedto engage a cam face I86 provided on the bottom plate 26. This cam face, as seen inplane; is. inclined. rearwardly and tothe right of. the. machine.

The engagement of. the. arms of the bell crank lever I83 with thecam face I86 and the block I82 results the bell crank. lever I80. occupying, at the end oi themovementofithe awl towards the right ofthe machine, a position; forward. and rearward. in the machine which: is determined by the position of: the block I821 onthe edge gage '20. When, for example, theedgelgagehaslbeen positioned rearward by the-.workthe block I82 moves through the bell crank: lever-I88i the; left hand end portion of the connecting. member I16 rear.- warcl, the bell crank lever I80 being prevented from being: moved about its pivot. I18. by the engagement of; the. camroll. I84 with the cam face 586. Since the righthand endportionof the connectingmember. I16 issecured to'the arm.I.42 of. the awl supportinglever. I22,.thelever I22 is I swung: ina clockwise. direction. (asviewed from above)v and the awl is. moved rearward. This rearwardmovementofthe awl, as-already stated; takes place against the action Of? the spring. I50 whichtends to move the awl forward. Thusthe awl comes to. rest. at theright handlim'it of its travel along the line of feed, ina forward and rearward position, the distance. of which from the edge gage remainsconstantin spite. of the edge gage. having possibly been displaced-forward or rearward.

For the purposeoialining; the awl at the end of. its work. feeding movement (i. e. movement toward. the left of? themachine) such that the awl and the hole. made-in the sole by the awlwill be positioned in the path of movement of the driver, there is. provided awl alining mechanism which will now. be described. It has been mentioned that the right hand end portion of the arm. I42 of the'awlsupporting lever I22 is tapered and extends. between two spaced vertical faces I48rprovidedon' the awlwswinging bracket I40; More specifically, these faces I48 are formed on a pair of parallel lugs I88 (Figs. 20 to 22) on the bracket I40- The, front one. of these lugs is extended: upward anduhas pivoted on: a horizontal stud I90 (Fig; 20) an awl alining lever I98 (Figs. 1, 3 and? 20). This .lever; I92 has a vertical arm. which has inits lower end a recess I94 (Figs; 21 and 22) arrangedtoenga'ge the tapered: end of. the: arm 142: to; aline: the awl at the end of" its-work feeding movement. The recess I94--is ofsuch a width that the; arm I42 can just enteniti and beiaccuratelypositioned thereby. The awl alining lever; I82. has a second horizontal arm I95 pmvidedwith a ball. shaped end which is engaged: by two blocks I88. The blocks I98 are arranged to'slide; when the bracket 4c is angularly adjustedin aahorizontal guideway". 29!] concentric-to -the. awl axis; The guideway 280 is formedain a bracket 202 secured to the machine frame. The awl alining lever I92, on movement of the swinging head I4 to feed the work and thus on corresponding movement of the bracket I49, is canted about its pivot stud IQli by reason of the engagement of its arm I26 in the fixed guideway 29!]. As the lever 592 is so canted, its lower end portion moves at a more rapid speed than does the bracket I40 with the result that the recessed lower end portion of the lever I22 catches up with the tapered end of the arm M2. Thus the tapered end of the arm I 42 becomes received within, and is positioned by the recess I94 in the awl alining lever I92 and, accordingly, the awl is alined as previously explained.

Referring now more specifically to the above mentioned hydraulic mechanism which is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 of the drawings, it will be noted that the above mentioned valve is in the form of a plunger valve 204 to which the aforesaid rod H8 is connected. The valve 204 is slidingly mounted in a valve chamber 206 formed in a valve block 228 which is secured to the above mentioned cylinder I12, the cylinder itself being secured to the machine frame.

The valve 204 has three reduced portions ZIG,

H2, and 2M (Fig. 12) which are spaced equal distances from each other. The valve block 208 has formed in it an inlet passage 2IS (Fig. 11) which communicates at one end with the valve chamber 206 and at the other end with a pipe 2I8 threaded into the inlet passage 2 I6 and connected to an oil pump (not shown). The valve block 208 also has formed in it two passages 22%, 222 (Figs. 9 and 12). The passage 220 is connected by a pipe 224 to one end of the cylinder I12, and the passage 222 is connected by a pipe 226 to the other end of the cylinder I12. The valve block 20 has in it a passage 228, the ends of which communicate with the valve chamber 206 at each end of the valve 204 and a pipe 238 communicates with the passage 228. The passage 228 and the pipe 23!! are arranged to drain away any oil which may escape past the ends of the valve 264.

The inlet passage 2I6 communicates with the reduced portion 2I2 of the valve 222 and when the valve is moved in one direction or the other from its neutral or closed position, oil under pressure may flow along the passage 220 and pipe 224 to one end of the cylinder I72 or along the passage 222 and pipe 226 to the other end of the cylinder I22.

The valve block 268 has formed in it two exhaust passages 232 and 232 which communicate with the valve chamber 266 and with a passage 235 in which is secured an exhaust pipe 238 (Fig. 10).

When the valve 2% is moved to the right from its neutral position (shown in Fig. 12), oil under pressure will flow up the passage 222 and along the pipe 226 to move the piston I'IEI to the right in Fig. 9. This opens the exhaust passage 232 and oil from the other end of the cylinder I12 will flow down the pipe 224 and passages 220 and 232 to the exhaust pipe 238. When the valve 224 is moved to the left from its neutral position, oil under pressure will flew up the passage 220 and pipe 224 to move the piston Ill to the left in Fig. 9 and oil will flow from the left hand end of the cylinder H2 down the pipe 225 and passages 222 and 23 3 to the exhaust pipe 238.

The operation of the machine will now be de scribed. It is to be understood that, as usual, the driving mechanism of the machine includes a clutch (not shown) which normally is disengaged so that the machine may run idle. With the machine idling, however, the above mentioned oil pump is driven to cause oil under pressure to be available for admission by the valve 204 to one end or the other of the cylinder I12. To initiate a cycle of operations the clutch is tripped by the depression of a treadle (not shown) and this cycle may be repeated indefinitely so long as the treadle is kept depressed. One nail is inserted during each cycle of operations.

Before considering more closely the sequence of events during one cycle of operations it should be noted that in the inoperative position of the operating instrumentalities of the machine the awl It is up and at the right hand limit of its back and forth movement along the line of feed. The awl is ready to descend and pierce the work and its position forward or rearward of the machine is determined in accordance with the position of the edge gage 2a through the agency of the above described connections between the awl mechanism and the edge gage mechanism, these connections including the block I82 on the edge gage, the bell crank lever I86, the connecting member I26, and the awl supporting lever I22. The edge gage is spring pressed forward and the feelers 64 will be located a little forward of the edge gage. The valve 294 will be closed assuming that the edge portion of the work piece last operated upon was straight. In this case, the edge gage mechanism and awl mechanism will be at the left and rearward ends of their swinging movements, that is at the ends of their counterclockwise movement (when viewed from above) the edge gage will extend substantially at right angles to the line of feed. If, however, the edge portion of the work piece last operated upon was curved, the edge gage mechanism and awl mechanism will have been moved angularly from their above mentioned end position and one of the feelers will extend further forward than the other.

The work piece, in the illustrated example a shoe with a sole to be nailed thereon, is placed on the horn I8 and moved rearward of the machine until its rear edge face engages the edge gage. Assuming the edge portion of the sole first to be operated upon to be substantially straight, both feelers 64, provided they are spaced uniform distances from the line of feed, will be moved rearward during and as a result of the rearward movement of the work piece. Since no relative movement takes place between the feelers 64, the valve 204 remains closed and the edge gage mechanism and awl mechanism remain in their initial positions of angular adjustment. Should, however, one of the feelers 64 be positioned further forward than the other, then the frontmost feeler alone will be pushed rearward relatively to the other, the valve 204 will be moved out of its initial neutral position, and the hydraulically operated mechanism will be operated to adjust the edge gage mechanism and awl mechanism angularly until the rearmost feeler also engages the Work piece and the eelers are brought into such a relative position that the valve is closed. Preferably, the edge gage, when the work is being positioned in the machine, is pushed rearward somewhat against the pressure of its springs 38, thus providing a live edge gage. Rearward displacement of the edge gage, of course, causes similar rearward movement of the awl due to the above described connections between the edge gageand awl mechanism.

The work piece having beenpositioned, the horn It is allowed to rise to clamp the work piece against the foot plate l6 whereupon the clutch is tripped. The awl descendsto pierce the work and as a result of the then ensuing movement of the swinging head I 4 toward the left of the machine, the awl is moved in the same direction while remaining in piercing engagement with the sole, thereby imparting a feed movement to the work. As in machines of thistyp'e, the horn I 8 is automatically lowered somewhat just before the beginnin of the feedmovement so as to release the work piece from clamping engagement with the foot. plate 18 during the feeding interval.

As the work piece is being fed by the awl, the operator continues to hold its edge face against the edge gage, turning the work piece if curved: portions of the edge are being operated upon. These curved portions may cause one or the other of the two feelers 64 to move rearward and thus operate the valve 204 with the result that the edge gage mechanism and awl mechanism are so angularly adjusted that the forward orrearward movements of the edge gage and the awl always take place in a direction perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the sole edge. Since the edge gage is normally immovable along the line of feed and since the awl in feeding the work moves toward the left of the machine along the line of feed, the awl connections with the edge gage, particularly the bell crank lever I80, move awayfrom the edge gage and the awl is free to follow forward or rearwardmovement of the workpiece if any such movement shouldtake place. During the work feeding operation the edge gage, may be moved rearward by the work piece or itmay be moved forward by its springs. 38 so that the engagement of the edge face of the sole withthe edge gage. is maintained with less skill, and attention on the part of the operator than if the edge gage were fixedin the machine.

Toward conclusion of the work feeding motion of the awl, the awl alining lever I92 becomes operative, as described, to engage andposition the arm M2 of the awl. supporting lever 12-2, thus alining the awl and the awl hole in the work piece with the path of movement of the driver, irrespective of the position of the edge-gageforward or rearward of the machine. Theuhorn 8 rises again to clamp the work, the awl is withdrawn and begins its backward motion along the line of teed. The driver descends and drives a nail into the awl hole made in the sole. As the awl completes its return motion toward. the right of the machine, the bell crank lever I180 of the mechanism connecting the awl with the edge gage again cooperates with the block I82 on the edge gage and the cam face 5'86 to position the awl forward or rearward of the machine inaccordance with the position of the edge gage;

Having thus described our invention, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for progressively operating along the edges of work parts, including edge portions of pronounced linear curvature, a movabl edge gage, an edge gage support, means tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine so as to maintain contact with the edge of a Work part presented to the machine, and automatically 14 operative means for: angularly adjusting the edge gage'supportout of the position it occupies, upon variation. of the linear configuration of the edge of th'e-workpart;

2. In. a. machine for progressively operating along the edges of work parts, including edge portions. of pronounced linear curvature, a movable e gage, an. edge gage support, a spring tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine and with relation to its support so as to cause theed'ge gage to maintain contact with the edge of a. work part presented to the machine, and automatically operative means for angularly adlusting the edge gage supportin accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part to cause the. edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular tothe line of tangency at the point of. contactof the edge ease with the edge of the work part.

3. In. a machine for progressively operating along the edges ofwork parts, including edge portions of pronounced. linear curvature, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, means tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine so as to cause th'eedgegage to maintain contact with the edge of a work part presented to the machine, means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support to cause the edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular to the line of tangency atthe point ofcontact of the edge gage with th'ecedge of the work part, and work edge contacting feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting. means in accordance with the linear configuration of the'edgeof thework part.

4. In a machine for progressively operating along the edges of work parts, including edge portions of pronounced linear curvature, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, a spring tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine andwith relation to its support so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of awork part presented to themachine; means for angula-rly adjusting the edge gage support: to cause the edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular tothe line of tangency atthe point of contact of the edge. gage with the edge of the work part, andzwork edge contacting. feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part.

5. In a machine for progressively operating along the edges of work parts, including edge portions of pronounced linear curvature, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, a work 56" feeding member adapted to. engage a work part at a predetermined point thereof and then to feed the work part while retaining contact with that point, means tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of the work part, and automatically operative means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support about said point to cause the edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the edge'of the work. part.

6. In a machine for progressively operating along theedges of work parts, including edge portions of pronounced linear curvature, a movable edgegage, an edge gage support, a work feeding member adapted to engage a work part at a predetermined point thereof and then to feed the work part while retaining contact with that point, a springtending to move the edge gage 7 'forward in' the machine and with relation to its support so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of the work part, and automatically operative means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support about said point in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part to cause the edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the edge of the work part.

7. In a machine for pregressively operating along the edges of work parts, including edge portions of pronounced linear curvature, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, a work feeding member adapted to engage a work part at a predetermined point thereof and then to feed the work part while retaining contact with that point, means tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of the work part, means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support about said point to cause the edge gage always to move in a direction perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the edge of the work part, and work edge contacting feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part.

8. In a fastening inserting machine, a work piercing and work feeding awl, an edge gage adapted to move forward or rearward in the machine, and connections between the edge gage and the awl adapted to move the awl forward or rearward in the machine on forward or rearward movement of the edge gage.

9. In a fastening inserting machine, a work piercing and work feeding awl, an awl support, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, means tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of a work part presented to the machine, automatically operative means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part, connections between the edge gage and the awl adapted to move the awl forward or rearward of the machine in accordance with the position of the adge gage forward or rearward of the machine, and connections between said adjusting means and the awl support, said connections being adapted to adjust the awl support angularly on angular adjustment of the edge gage support.

10. In a fastening inserting machine, a work piercing and work feeding awl, an awl support, a movable edge gage, an edge gage support, a spring tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine and with relation to its support so as to cause the edge gage to maintain contact with the edge of a work part presented to the machine, means for angularly adjusting the edge gage support to cause the edge gage always to move ina direction perpendicular to the line of tangency at the point of contact of the edge gage with the edge of the work part, connections between the edge gage and the awl adapted to move the awl forward or rearward of the machine in accordance with the position of the edge gage forward or rearward of the machine, connections between said adjusting means and the awl support adapted to adjust the awl support angularly on angular adjustment of the edge gage support, and work edge contacting feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting means 16 in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part.

11. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl adapted in its initial position to pierce the work and then to initiate a feed movement of the work, an awl support, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means for causing movement of the awl forward and rearward of the machine with such movements of the edge gage, and means, the operation of which is controlled in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part operated upon, for angularly adjusting the edge gage and the awl support about a center 00- inciding with the awl when the latter is in its initial work piercing position.

12. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl adapted in its initial position to pierce the work and then to initiate a feed movement of the work, an awl support, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means for causing movement of the awl forward and rearward of the machine with relation to its support and in accordance with such movements of the edge gage, and means for angularly adjusting the edge gage and the awl support about a center coinciding with the awl when in its initial work piercing position, and work edge contacting feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part.

13. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl adapted in its initial position to pierce the work and then to feed the work, means for moving the awl laterally of the machine first in one direction to feed the work and then in the opposite direction back to its initial position, an awl support, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means for causing movement of the awl forward and rearward of the machine and with relation to its .support on return of the awl into its initial position, connections between the edge gage and the awl to determine the direction and extent of forward or rearward movement of the awl, and means, the operation of which is controlled in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge portion of the work part operated upon for angularly adjusting the edge gage and the awl support about a center coinciding with the awl when the latter is in its initial work piercing position.

14. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl adapted in its initial position to pierce the work and then to feed the work, means for moving the awl laterally of the machine first in one direction to feed the work and then in the opposite direction back to its ini-' tial position, an awl support, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means for causing movement of the awl forward and rearward of the machine and with relation to its support on return of the awl into its initial position, connections between the edge gage and the awl to determine the direction and extent of forward or rearward movement of the awl, means for angularly adjusting the edge gage and the awl support about a center coinciding with the awl when the latter is in its initial work piercing position, and work edge contacting feelers for controlling the operation of said adjusting means in accordance with the linear configuration of the edge of the work part.

15. In a fastening inserting machine, a work piercing and work feeding awl, an edge gage 1 7 adapted to move forward or rearward in the machine on forward or rearward displacement of a work part presented to the machine, and means permitting free movement of the awl forward or rearward of the machine as a result of the forward or rearward displacement of the work.

16. In a fastening inserting machine, a work piercing and work feeding awl, an awl support, an edge gage adapted to move forward and rearward in the machine, an edge gage support, a spring tending to move the edge gage forward in the machine, connections between the edge gage and the awl adapted to move the awl forward in accordance with the position of the edge gage forward of the machine, hydraulically operated mechanism for adjusting the edge gage support and the awl support angularly, a valve controlling the operation of the hydraulic mechanism, and work edge engaging feelers for controlling the setting of the valve.

17. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl adapted in its initial position to pierce the work and then to feed the work, means for moving the awl laterally of the machine first in one direction to feed the work and then in the opposite direction back to its initial position, an awl support, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means for causing movement of the awl forward or rearward of the machine on return of the awl into initial position, connections between the edge and the awl to determine the extent of the forward or rearward movement of the awl, hydraulically operated mechanism for adjusting the the edge gage support and awl support angularly about a center coinciding with the awl when the latter is in its initial position, a valve controlling the operation of the hydraulically operated mechansim, and work edge engaging feelers asSO- ciated with the edge gage and adapted to control the setting of the valve in accordance with the linear configuration of the work edge.

18. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl means for reciprocating the awl along the line of feed between an initial work piercing position and a final position in which the work feeding movement of the awl is concluded, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means active when the awl is in its initial position for positioning the awl forward or rearward of the machine in accordance with the position of the edge gage, and means active on movement of the awl into its said final position for positioning the awl in 18 alinement with the path of movement of the driver.

19. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl, means for reciprocating the awl along the line of feed between an initial work piercing position and a final position in which the work feeding movement of the awl is concluded, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means active when the awl is in its initial position for positioning the awl forward or rearward of the machine in accordance with the position of the edge gage, means active on movement of the awl into its said final position for positioning the awl in alinement with the path of movement of the driver, an edge gage support, an awl support, and means for adjusting the edge gage support and the awl support angularly about a center coinciding with the awl when the latter is in its said initial position.

20. In a fastening inserting machine, a fastening inserting driver, an awl, means for reciprocating the awl along the line of feed between an initial work piercing position and a final position in which the work feeding movement of the awl is concluded, an edge gage movable forward and rearward of the machine, means active when the awl is in its initial position for positioning the awl forward or rearward of the machine in accordance with the position of the edge gage, means active on movement of the awl into its said final position for positioning the awl in alinement with the path of movement of the driver, an edge gage support, an awl support, hydraulically operated mechanism for adjusting the edge gage support and the awl support angularly about a center coinciding with the awl when the latter is in its initial position, a valve controlling the operation of the hydraulic mechanism, and work edge engaging feelers associated with the edge gage and adapted to control the setting of the valve in accordance with the linear configuration of the work edge.

HAROLD ERNEST ELLIOTT. GEORGE CLIFFORD BARTON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Robinson July 22, 1941 Number 

